Push button time zone watch



Dec. 19, 1967' F. G. BURG 3,358,437

PUSH BUTTON TIME ZONE WATCH Filed May 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l NEW CALEDQNIA LONDON HONOLULU BAGHDAD BAN FPA CISCO DENVER 10 H 7 7 CHICAGO ll NEW YOQK INVENTOR F655 uflyf F. G. BURG Dec. 19, 1967 PUSH BUTTON TIME ZONE WATCH Fil ed May 25. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [1?[0 6 5&86

BY amafi Dec. 19, F G B PUSH BUTTON TIME ZONE WATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet -15 Filed May 25,

INVEN TOR. 1%50 G. B026 BY flrroelvefls.

Dec. 19, 1937 F; G. BURG 3,353,437

PUSH BUTTON TIME ZONE WATCH Filed May 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I? L 92 2/2 I? I78 I fwwrae 13450 G. B026 5% 4.5%

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLQSURE Three forms of watch mechanisms (FIGS. l-7; FIGS. 8-10; FIGS. 11-14) achieve a time zone setting of the hour hand without disturbing the minute hand. The hour hand 150 for example (FIG. 11) is connected to an output gear 182 of a diiferential transmission 168. The output gear 182 is operated both by a synchronous input gear 166 through gears 156, 184 and planetary gear 176, and by a selectively operable auxiliary input gear 192 through gear 194 and planetary gear supporting plates 170 and 172. Auxiliary input gear 192 normally held in position by a detent structure 226-228 (FIG. 13), is manually operated to index the hour hand while an indicator 230 (FIG. 14) displays the angular movement thereof corresponding to the time zone setting.

Brief summary of invention This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 449,344, filed Aug. 28, 1964, now abandoned, entitled Horological Instrument. Said application Ser. No. 449,344 was a division of my prior now abandoned application Ser. No. 261,250, filed Feb. 25, 1963, entitled Horological Instrument, which in turn was a continuation-in-part of my prior now abandoned application Ser. No. 176,014, filed Feb. 27, 1962, entitled, Horological Instrument.

This invention relates to a horological instrument and particularly to apparatus whereby time zone adjustments may be made.

When a traveler leaves Los Angeles, for example, and arrives in Chicago, presumably he advances his watch two hours. This involves moving the minute hand through two revolutions. Hopefully this is precisely done so that no error in the new setting results. Many times adjustments are made frequently, as on long airplane trips, and the setting error may be cumulative.

Another problem is that the traveler sometimes forgets whether or not he has made the adjustment, and sometimes two adjustments are made in error.

One attempted solution is to rotate the entire works of the watch with respect to relatively fixed dial marks. However, such an adjustment is crude in that the minute hand in addition to the hour hand is moved, and to advance time one hour, 1:00 oclock becomes approximately 2:05; and even then the relationship of the hands is wrong.

Other solutions involve moving the hour hand alone, or providing a supplemental hour hand. In general, these devices have been complicated and impractical.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and practical instrument which makes it possible for the hour hand to be precisely adjusted without in any manner disturbing the setting of the minute hand whereby a new time zone setting can be accomplished.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument that, by simple means, gives a visual indication of the time zone to which the instrument is set, whereby mistakes in setting are avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple compact mechanical arrangement whereby one of the parts of a two-part hour hand drive can be independently driven.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a unique push button-operated mechanism for accomplishing a quick time zone adjustment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simple push button-operated spring motor for accomplishing the time zone adjustment wherein the inward movement of the push button not only initiates operation of the motor, but also stores energy therein, and release of the button stops the motor.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification, and which drawings, unless described as diagrammatic, or unless as otherwise indicated, are true scale. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a watch incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged axial sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged sectional view taken along the cylindrical surface indicated by line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 66 and 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partially diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 99 and 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an axial sectional view of still another modified form of the present invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 1212 and 13-13 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view illustrating the time zone dial.

Detailed description of the invention Shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a conventional watch face plate 10. A backing ring 11 (FIG. 3) for the face plate is clamped against a wall 13 of the case. A part 12 of the clock mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Projecting axially upwardly and through a small central aperture 15 in the watch face 10 is a main drive shaft 16, the upper end of which mounts a minute hand 17 in a conventional or suitable manner. Two supporting plates 18 and 19 mount the main drive shaft 16 for rotation about the central axis a. A suitable source of clock motion (not shown) may be provided for rotating the drive shaft 16 at the rate of one revolution per minute. While the minute hand shaft 16 is shown as the main drive shaft, as is usually the custom in wrist watches and pocket watches, other arrangements could be provided. For example, electric clocks provide a main drive for the second hand.

The hour hand 20 is located just benath the minute hand 17 and is supported for rotation about the axis a by a sleeve 21 and collar 22. (See also FIG. 4.) The sleeve 21 forms a synchronous hour hand shaft in a manner presently to be described.

The sleeve 21 and collar 22 are mounted one above the other and with running clearance about a hollow auxiliary drive shaft 23 to be described more fully hereinafter. The hollow auxiliary drive shaft 23 in turn surrounds, with running clearance, the upper end of the main drive shaft 16.

The hour hand 20 has a central circular part 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) provided with a central aperture that is press fitted over the collar 22 for rotation therewith. The lower end of the collar 22 has a flange provided with ratchet teeth 22a (FIG. 5) that engage companion ratchet teeth 21a formed on the upper end of the sleeve 21, thus forming a one way driving connection between the sleeve or hour hand shaft 21 and the hour hand 20. Upon clockwise rotation of sleeve 21, appropriate motion is imparted to the hour hand.

For rotating the sleeve 21, step-down gearing is provided. The main drive shaft 16 thus carries a gear 25 that cooperates with a gear 26 mounted upon a stub shaft 27. The gear 26 is coupled to a gear 28 that engages the gear 29 mounted upon the lower end of the sleeve 21. The gear ratios are suitably chosen to achieve the desired ratio of twelve to one to correspond to the ratios of movement of the minute hand 17 to the hour hand 20. This corresponds to the normal operation of the hour and minute hands.

A compression spring 30 accommodated in a counterbore in the bottom of the sleeve 21 engages the inner area of a gear 31 formed at the lower end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23. The upper end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is press fitted to the collar 22. Accordingly, the spring 30 urges the ratchet teeth of the collar and sleeve together.

In order to adjust the watch to a time zone, the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is utilized. Normally the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is driven by the collar 22 for an idle movement. However, by driving the auxiliary shaft 23 faster in the clockwise direction, the hour hand 20 which is attached to the upper collar 22 may be advanced relative to the sleeve 21. 'Upon such rotation of the auxiliary drive shaft 23, the ratchet teeth 22a and 21a pass over each other, the spring 30 acting to snap the teeth together after each passage. This supplemental movement of the hour hand 20 in no way disturbs the setting of the minute hand 17.

The number of ratchet teeth is divisible by twelve so that the hour hand 26 can be indexed precisely by twelfths of a revolution, whereby the watch can be changed in accordance with the time zones.

For quickly rotating the auxiliary drive shaft 23, an auxiliary source of motion in the form of a spring motor 32 is provided. This spring motor may be provided with a suitable winding stem not shown. The spring motor 32 operates a Geneva movement in turn connected to the auxiliary drive shaft 23 in a manner to be hereinafter described, whereby a suitable intermittent movement is imparted thereto. The Geneva movement includes a cog or drive wheel 33 that is appropriately secured to a first countershaft 34 parallel to the main drive shaft 16. The countershaft 34 has its ends suitably supported by the plates 18 and 19. The Geneva drive wheel 33 is positioned near the center of the countershaft 34 by having its lower hub portion 35 abutting a spacer sleeve 36. A Geneva wheel 37 driven by the cog wheel 33 is rotatable about a second countershaft 38, and is positioned just above the cog wheel 33.

Step-up gear mechanisms mounted upon the countershafts 34 and 38 beneath the Geneva movement serve to impart suitable motion to the Geneva cog wheel 33. Two gear stages are provided. Thus, a gear 39 mounted at and secured to the lower end of the countershaft 38 is engaged by a gear 40 mounted upon the shaft of the motor 32 to form one stage of gearing. A set screw 41 secures the gear 39 to the shaft 38. The teeth 42 of the gear 39 in this instance are in the form of wire spokes of suitable length to ensure cooperation with the gear 40 despite variations in relative axial positions of the parts. A second stage of step-up gearing is provided by gears 43 and 44. The gear 473 is located just above the gear 39 and is se- 4 cured to the shaft 38 by a set screw 45. The gear 44 is press fitted upon the hub 35.

The Geneva wheel 37 (FIG. 6) has twelve equiangularly arranged driving slots 46 extending inwardly from the periphery thereof. Between the slots 46 are the areaate Geneva dwell surfaces 47. The cog wheel 33 carries an upwardly projecting eccentric driving pin 48 movable into and out of the driving slots 46 in succession. The countershaft 34 is relieved at a place opposite the Geneva wheel 37 so as to form a stop 34a cooperable with the dwells 47. In the position shown, the stop 34a has moved to a point where the wheel 37 may be moved, and the pin 48 is entering a slot 46 to cause indexing movement. However, the wheel 37 is normally restrained by a ratchet wheel 49 so that until release of the ratchet wheel, the setting of the hour hand 20 is maintained. When the ratchet wheel 49 is released, the Geneva wheel is moved intermittently in a well known manner.

The ratchet wheel 49 is journalled upon the countershaft 38. The ratchet wheel has hubs at opposite ends, the lower one of which 50 (FIG. 3) is press fitted into the central aperture 51 of the Geneva wheel 37. Accordingly, restraint imposed upon the ratchet wheel 49 is effective upon the Geneva wheel 37.

The central portion of the ratchet Wheel carries teeth 52 accessible just above the Geneva wheel 37. A pawl 53 is formed at the end of a bell crank lever 54 centrally pivoted on a pin 55. The lever 54 is angularly movable about the pin 55 so as to be in or out of the path of the ratchet wheel teeth 52. A reciprocable stem 56 accessible eXteriorly of the mechanism and the case therefor is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the bell crank. lever 54. The stem 56 carries a head 57 beneath which a return spring 58 is mounted so as to move the pawl 53 to engage the ratchet teeth 52. When the head 57 is moved inwardly, as by the application of digital pressure, the Geneva dwell 37 is released and the clock motor 132 rotates the hour hand through a train of gearing and a one way drive to be presently described. The ratchet teeth 52 and pawl 53 are so located as to stop the Geneva wheei 37 when the dwell 47 and the stop 34a are operative, thereby ensuring completion of each step of movement.

Thevupper end of the ratchet wheel 49 has a hub 59 fitted in a central aperture 60 of one element 61 of a one way drive structure. The element 61 is in the form of a disk that carries a pawl 62 (FIG, 7) at its upper surface and at the marginal portion thereof. A screw 63 serves pivotally to mount the pawl (see also FIG. 7). The pawl 62 is engageable with a ratchet wheel 64 located just above the disk 61 and journalled upon the shaft 38. The ratchet wheel 64 forms the second or companion part of the one way drive.

A leaf spring 65 has one end clamped to the top surface of the disk 61 by the aid of a screw 66. The other end of the leaf spring 65 engages the outer surface of the pawl 62 to urge it in a direction to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 64. When the Geneva wheel 37 is released, the ratchet wheel 64 is rotated.

The ratchet wheel 64 has an upper reduced end or hub 67 projecting through an aperture 68 in the upper mount-- ing plate 13. Upon this upper projecting end a gear 63 is mounted, as by a set screw 76. The gear 63 has teeth 71 engaging the teeth 72 of a transfer gear 73. The gear 73 has a hub '74 mounted upon a stub shaft '78. The teeth 72 of the gear '73 engage the teeth of the gear 31 formed at the end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23. Accordingly, when the stem 56 is moved inwardly, the spring motor 32 operates to advance the hour hand 20 through the follow ing chain of elements: gears 40 and 39, shaft 38, gears 43 and 44, cogwheel 33, pin 48, Geneva wheel 37, disk 61 of the one way drive mechanism, pawl 62, ratchet. wheel 64, gear 69, gear 73, auxiliary drive shaft 23, collar 22 to the hour hand 24).

The ratchet teeth 22a (FIG. 5) formed on the collar 22 ride over the ratchet teeth of the sleeve 21 during this,

rapid advancing movement of the hour hand. When the head 57 on the operating stem 56 is released, the pawl 53 stops the motor 32, and the hour hand adjustment is held.

The normal clock drive, through shaft 16, rotates the auxiliary drive shaft 23 which is coupled to the collar 22. Accordingly, the gear 73 and the ratchet wheel 64 are driven, but the pawl 62 cannot move about the axis of the shaft 38. Accordingly, the teeth of the ratchet 'wheel 64 ride over the pawl 62 and the restraint imposed upon the Geneva wheel 37 is inelfective to interfere with the normal clock movement.

In order to indicate the time Zone at which the hour hand 20 is set, a dial plate 75 is provided (see also FIG. 2) that is located just above the face and immediately beneath the circular part 24 of the hour hand 20. The dial plate 75 is press fitted on the sleeve 21 and is carried therewith. The central part 24 of the hour hand has a circular aperture 76 through which equiangularly spaced legends 1, 2, 3 12 are visible. In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the legend 12 is visible and the watch reads 9:40.

The code for the time zone legends is displayed in this instance on the strap or band 77 for the watch, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, by previous setting of the watch by the usual manipulation of the winding stem or otherwise, the watch may be set to read local time in New York. In order to change to Chicago time, for example, the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is operated until the aperture 76 registers with time zone 11. In this case, the watch will read Chicago time, namely, 8:40. The accurate setting of the minute hand is not disturbed, and the time zone is displayed to prevent errors.

By virtue of the code tabulation 77 and the indication of the time zone through the opening 76, the traveler can at all times determine for which locality his timepiece is adjusted.

The intermittent operation of the Geneva drive and the companion ratchet wheel is designed to produce, by the aid of the subsequent gear train, such intermittent movement of the hour hand that distinct positions of registry between the aperture 76 and the dial plate 75 occur.

In FIG. 8, there is illustrated a watch having a dial face 79 and an hour hand 80. The hour hand 80 has a central enlarged circular part 82 similar to the part 24 shown in FIG. 1. The hour hand is mounted upon a hollow shaft 84 that carries a sun gear 85 of the differential transmission mechanism 86. A dial plate 88, similar to the dial plate 75, has legends 1, 2, 3 12 cooperable with an aperture 90 in the enlarged central part 82 of the hour hand 80 in order to indicate the time Zone setting of the hour hand. The dial plate 88 is mounted upon a sleeve 92 that surrounds the hour hand shaft 84.

A minute hand 94 has a shaft 96 that extends through the hollow hour hand shaft 84 and the transmission mechanism 86. This shaft 96 is driven by the Watch escapement or motor drive 97. As in the previous form, a gear train 98 of suitable ratio connects the minute hand shaft 96 to the sleeve 92 so that the dial plate 88 moves synchronously.

The differential transmission mechanism 86 (see also FIG. 9) has two inputs, such as gears 99 and 100, both of which impart rotation to the sun gear 85. Thus the gear 99 rotates planetary gears 101 about the sun axis, and gear 100 rotates a ring gear 102 which, through the planetary gears, rotates the sun gear. The hour hand shaft 84 moves at a rate corresponding to the sum of the rates of movement of the input shafts 99 and 100.

The input gear 99 also is connected by a suitable gear train 104 to the watch escapement or motor. Accordingly, when the other input gear 100 is held stationary, the appropriate synchronous movement is imparted both to the hour hand 80 and the dial plate 88. However, if a time zone setting is desired, the gear 100 is rotated and, without disturbing any of the other mechanism, the hour hand 80 advances relative to the dial plate 88 and a different legend appears at the aperture 90.

. 6 The gear is operated by a driving gear 106 (FIGS. 9 and 10). The gear 106 is carried on a stepped shaft 108 (FIG. 8), the upper and lower ends of which are suitably journalled in the watch case. The shaft 108 is rotated by a ratchet wheel 110 (FIGS. 8 and 10) secured to the shaft 108. The ratchet wheel 110 in turn is operated by a pawl 112 that is pivotally mounted on a lever 114.

The lever 114, as shown in FIG. 8, is journallcd on an intermediate step of the shaft 108 for angular reciprocation about the axis of the shaft. The pivoted pawl 112, as shown in FIG. 9, is capable of imparting clockwise movement to the ratchet wheel 110 by corresponding angular movement of the lever 114. However, the pawl 112 swings about its pivot pin 116 and away from a stop pin 117 when the lever is moved in a counterclockwise direction.

The lever 114 is moved in counterclockwise direction preparatory to advancement of the ratchet wheel 110 by the air of a plunger 118, the end of which is accessible for manipulation through the watch case. The outer end of the plunger is guided in an aperture 120 of the case, and its inner end is pivotally connected to a link 122 in turn pivotally mounted on the case, as by a pin 124. When the plunger 118 is moved inwardly, one end of the lever 114 is engaged by a shoulder 126 of the plunger and the lever 114 moves against the force of a return spring 128. Upon sufiicient inward movement of the plunger, the lever 116 moves angularly to clear the shoulder 126, and the lever accordingly moves in a clockwise direction under the influence of return spring 128, carrying the ratchet wheel 110 therewith. The parts are stopped by release of the plunger 118. Thus the link 122 is provided with a detent 130 that cooperates with a peripherally toothed wheel 132 fastened to the shaft 108. The plunger 118 is released when the desired time zone adjustment is accomplished. A light spring 134 urges the plunger 118 outwardly and the detent 130 into engagement.

When the toothed wheel 132 and the shaft 108 are stopped, the lever 114 may not return completely to the full-line position illustrated in FIG. 7. When the zone setting is again required, the lever 114 will be caused to move its full stroke. The parts are so proportioned and designed that one full stroke of the lever 114 is suflicient to cause advancement of the hour hand through twelve time zone adjustments.

A different mechanism for providing a time zone adustrnent to the hour hand is shown in FIGS. 11 to 14. In FIG. 11 an hour hand is illustrated that is mounted mounted upon a hollow hour hand shaft 152. Extending through and rotatably supporting the hollow shaft 152 is a minute hand shaft 154. Formed on the lower end of the minute hand shaft is a gear 156. The upper end of the gear 156 forms a rest for the lower end of the hour hand shaft. The hour hand shaft 152 has an enlarged part 158 adjacent its lower end. The shafts -152 and 154 together are confined between a dial plate 160 and a support plate 162.

In order to impart suitable synchronous movement to the minute hand shaft 154, a drive mechanism (not shown) is provided. The drive operates a gear 166 that engages the minute hand mounted gear 156. Rotation of the mmute hand shaft 154 in turn causes suitable movement of the hour hand 150. This is achieved by a planetary transmission 168. This transmission includes a pair of spaced mounting plates 170 and 172 between which are mounted a pair of spacers 174 and a rotatable planetary gear 176. The upper mounting plate 178 is fastened to a collar 178 journalled about the enlarged portion 158 of the shaft 152. The lower plate 172 is fastened to a bearing bushing 180 that rides on the gear 156.

Normally the plates 170 and 172 are held against rotation by means hereinafter to be described, and the planetary gear 176 transmits motion from the minute hand gear 156 to a sun gear 182 secured to the lower end of the hour hand shaft 152. A gear 184, fastened to the planetary gear, engages the minute hand gear 156 for this purpose.

By imparting rotation to the supporting plates 170, 172, orbital movement is imparted to the planetary gear 176 so as to impart indexing movement to the hour hand corresponding to a time-zone adjustment, all without disturbing the synchronous driving connection just described. For'this purpose, a drive mechanism 188 is provided.

The drive mechanism includes a stepped main shaft 190 which has ends mounted by the plates 160 and 162. The upper end of the shaft 190 carries a gear 192 that engages a gear 194 fastened to the collar 178. In order to rotate the shaft 190, a plunger 196 (see also FIG. 12) is provided.

The plunger 196 has a stem 200 guided by a support 202. The stem projects through the case wall 204 for digital actuation. A compression spring 206, engageable beneath the crown 208, normally urges the plunger outwardly to a limited position determined by engagement of a shoulder 210 with the support 202. The inner end of the plunger 196 carries a pivoted pawl 212 that is pressed by a spring 214 normally to occupy in-line relationship with respect to the plunger 194. Thus the pawl has a rearwardly facing shoulder 216 that engages a companion flat formed at the end of the plunger 196. Upon inward movement of the plunger 1%, a ratchet wheel 218 having twelve teeth is moved. The ratchet 218, being secured to the shaft 190, rotates the gears 192 and 194, and thus the hour hand shaft 152. The parts are so designed that the pawl 212 advances the ratchet slightly more than 15. A spring detent 220 (FIG. 13) carries the ratchet wheel 218 the balance of the 30 indexing increment and holds the shaft 192 in stable 30 indexed position. Upon release of the plunger 1%, the pawl 212 rides back over the ratchet 218 and back to the full-line position illustrated.

The spring detent 220 is made of spring strip material and has one end wrapped about a post 222. The other end of the spring detent 220 normally engages a stop post 224. The detent has a central outwardly bowed portion 226 engageable with a star wheel 228 fastened to the shaft 190. The wheel 228 having twelve teeth, twelve stable positions are determined. 1

Since the gears 192 and 194 are of equal diameters,

each 30 indexing movement of the shaft 190 will impart a corresponding 36 or one hour movement to the hour hand shaft 152. p g

In order to indicate the position of the shaft 190 and thus the time zone increment added, an indicator 23% (FIGS. 11 and 14) is provided, attached to the upwardly projecting end of the shaft 190. The indicator 23d cooperates with suitable time zone legends imprinted on the face of the dial plate 160 and as shown in FIG. 14.

The inventor claims:

1. In a watch mechanism or the like having a synchronous hou-r hand shaft; an hour hand; a rotary member secured to the hour hand; a coupling between the hour hand shaft and said rotary member whereby the rotary member is capable of overrunning movement with respect to said hour hand shaft; auxiliary rotary driving means connected to said rotary member for imparting such overrunning movement; the combination therewith of; companionindicating means directly carried by the hour hand shaft and the 'hour hand respectively for displaying the relative position therebetween corresponding to the time zone setting of said hour hand, comprising first, a plate secured to the hour hand shaft for movement therewith and underlying said hour hand, and provided with legends l, 2, 3 12 for denoting time zone, and second, a circula'r central part of the hour hand having an opening through which is visible the legend registering with said opening, said hour hand extending radially beyond said circular central part.

2. In a watch mechanism or the like: a synchronous hour hand shaft; an hour hand; a transmission having a pair of input members and an output member connected to the hour hand; said output member being moved at a rate corresponding to the sum of the rates of movement of said input members; said output member being directly coupled to both input members; means connecting one of said input members and said hour hand shaft to a source of synchronous movement; selectively operable means for operating the other of said input members to impart overrunning movement of said hour hand relative to said hour hand shaft; and means carried directly by the hour hand and the hour hand shaft respectively for displaying the extent of overrunning movement of said hour hand relative to said hour hand shaft and corresponding to the time zone setting of said hour hand.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said displaying means comprises first, a plate secured to the hour hand shaft for movement therewith and underlying said hour hand, and provided with legends 1, 2, 3 12 for denoting time zone, and second, a circular central part of the hour hand having an opening through which is visible the legend registering with said opening, said hour hand extending radially beyond said circular central part.

4. In a watch mechanism or the like: a case; a synchonous hour hand shaft; an hour hand; means for adjusting the relative angular position between the hour hand and the hour hand shaft; means normally moving said hour hand shaft and said hour hand in unison; indicating means for displaying the relative position of the hour hand and hour hand shaft corresponding to time zone setting of said hour hand; a movable ratchet for operating said adjusting means; a pawl for said ratchet; movable mounting means for the pawl; spring means urging the mounting means in a direction to cause the pawl to engage and move said ratchet; an actuator guided in a path and having an end accessible through the case for manipulation; bias means urging the actuator toward one limit in its path; a trip connection between said actuator and said mounting means for imparting movement to said mounting means against the force of said spring means until sufficient movement of said actuator away from its said "one limit; and a releasable lock means connected to said actuator for releasing and locking said ratchet respectively upon movement of said actuator away from and back to said one limit thereby to secure a time zone set ting of said hour hand.

5. In a Watch mechanism or the like: a case; a synchronous hour hand shaft; an hour hand; means for adjusting the relative angular position between the hour hand and the hour hand shaft; means normally moving said hour hand shaft and said hour hand in unison; companion indicating means carried by the hour hand shaft and the hour hand respectively for displaying the relative position therebetween corresponding to time zone setting of said hour hand; a spring motor for operating said adjusting means; an actuator guided in a path and having an end accessible through the case for manipulation; bias means urging the actuator toward one limit in its path; a trip connection between said actuator and said spring motor for storing energy in said spring motor upon movement of said actuator away from its said one limit, said trip connection movement of said actuator; and releasable lock means for restraining movement of said spring motor under the influence of its spring, and operatively positioned to lock said spring motor when said actuator is returned to its said one limit.

6. In a watch mechanism or the like: a case; a synchronous hour hand shaft; an hour hand; means for adjusting the relative angular position between the hour hand and the hour hand shaft; means normally moving said hour hand shaft and said hour hand in unison; companion indicating means carried by the hour hand shaft and the hour hand respectively for displaying the relative position therebetween corresponding to time zone setting of said hour hand; a shaft; a ratchet wheel carried on the shaft; a lever pivotally movable on the shaft; a pawl carried by the lever and operative to move said ratchet wheel with the lever upon movement of the lever in one direction, and slipping relative to the ratchet wheel upon movement of the lever in the other direction; a spring attached to one end of said lever for urging said lever in said one direction, and capable of storing energy when said lever is moved in the other direction; a plunger having one end projecting through the case, and normally urged to one limit in which said plunger end is outermost of the case; a trip connection between said plunger and the other end of said lever for moving said lever in said other direction until said plunger has moved sufiiciently from its said one limit; a detent operatively positioned to engage said detent wheel and lock said shaft upon return of said plunger to its said limit; :and gear means connecting said shaft to said adjusting means.

7. In a time zone watch mechanism: a support; an hour hand; a differential type transmission having a pair of input shafts and an output shaft; means connecting the output shaft to the hour hand; synchronous timing means connected to one of said input shafts; selectively operable auxiliary driving means connected to the other of said input shafts; means measuring in time zone units corresponding to hours, the incremental movement imparted to the hour hand by said auxiliary driving means; and spring detent means carried by the support determining equiangularly spaced positions of the other input shaft corresponding to hour incremental movements of said hour hand whereby adjustment of the hour hand is accomplished in discrete increments while the reaction of said spring detent means is isolated from said one input shaft and while said hour hand remains at all times in continuous effective driving engagement with both of said input shafts.

References Cited UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,378,085 6/1918 Balch 58-43 1,767,183 6/1930 Lux 58-16 1,975,100 10/1934 Grant 58-43 2,451,639 10/1948 Tellier 5843 2,456,122 12/1948 Guilden 58-43 2,777,281 1/1957 Berry 58-42.5

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL LORCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WATCH MECHANISM OR THE LIKE HAVING SYNCHRONOUS HOUR HAND SHAFT; AN HOUR HAND; A ROTARY MEMBER SECURED TO THE HOUR HAND; A COUPLING BETWEN THE HOUR HAND SHAFT AND SAID ROTARY MEMBER WHEREBY THE ROTARY MEMBER IS CAPABLE OF OVERRUNNING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUR HAND SHAFT; AUXILIARY ROTARY DRIVING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROTARY MEMBER FOR IMPARTING SUCH OVERRUNNING MOVEMENT; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF; COMPANION INDICATING MEANS DIRECTLY CARRIED BY THE HOUR HAND SHAFT AND THE HOUR HAND RESPECTIVELY FOR DISPLAYING THE RELATIVE POSITION THEREBETWEEN CORRESPONDING TO THE TIME ZONE SETTING OF SAID HOUR HAND, COMPRISING FIRST, A PLATE SECURED TO THE HOUR HAND SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND UNDERLYING SAID HOUR HAND, AND PROVIDED WITH LEGENDS 1, 2, 3 ... 12 FOR DENOTING TIME ZONE, AND SECOND, A CIRCULAR CENTRAL PART OF THE HOUR HAND HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH IS VISIBLE THE LEGEND REGISTERING WITH SAID OPENING, SAID HOUR HAND EXTENDING RADIALLY BEYOND SAID CIRCULAR CENTRAL PART. 